The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-04-30


shade paler than usual In her customary
frank and kindly manner she said:
"Paw hain't ter hum, nor won't be afore
dark, so eff it's him yer wants ter see in per-
ticalar, yer'll have ter watt SPELL"
Then turning toward small mirror hang
ing over work-box in which she deposit
ed her thimble she watched the young
mans face as he realized the full import of
her information. He laughed lightly, and
answered:
"Weli, no; I didn't call to see your pa.
Pm beastly hungry, and Pve heard that
the best meal in Loup valley is to be found
at And's."
81 low that you heard that from some
teller as was fonder Nv gizzard than the
TRUTH said Sairey.
''That's the best thing pve heard this
year." he replied. Then he fished green
back from his vest pocket and continued:
IF you can cook me something substantial
to eat in half an hour, here's tive-dollar
note to cover the damage"
Then he quietly slipped the money into
Sairey's work-box. She as promptly re-
moved it, returned it quietly and said:
mo, sir; can't git yer nuthin' ter eat
on them terms; faint with it; but eff yer
not above helpin' me trlfe I'll put in my
best ticks ter get yer up snack, an then
yer kin pay me half dollar or Whereabouts
eff yer likes"
The stranger laughed, saw she was in
earnest, and pocketed his money.
II agree then to the terms; in fact, Pm
too hungry to quarrel about them. Please
tell me what's to be done and I'll begin at
once" and pulling off his coat he hung it
on peg behind the door.
''Bring in an armful Of wood from Their
south side Of the pile"
'What next?" said he, as he dumped the
wood into the box.
"Yer kin git milk-pan often that bench
out thar by the wellsweep, an bring me
up sum pertaters while light Their fire.
There down in the pertater hole, an I'm
30 scared Nv sand Lizards tibet paw allus
gifts 'em up for me when he's hum"
Then STOPPING, Salrey lifted a heavy tral
door in the middle of the floor, disclosing a
small, slender ladder leading down into an
unusually deep and cavernous cellar with
out other means of ingress or egress.
While the laughing stranger descended,
Sairey watched him as a cat might watch
her unsuspecting victim. Ashe commenced
picking up the mealy tubers, she suddenly
hauled up the ladder and dropped the door
with reverberating bang. A deep-toned
and wicked curse pursued her, as darting
from the house she flew toward Hank
Wells post-ofice. When she ran through
official family were at supper.
give got him, folks, alive, too," Sairey
rapturously exclaimed. tive apprehended
him, as Their paper reads, an he's Gagged in
our pertater holev'
tt(I0f him Got r,,ho Cinfhv.
s'air yer gone crazy, Sairey Brennan?"
"Whoa' replied Sairey, with wild and
fruitless efforts to smooth down her
tangled hair. ssWhy, him."
She pointed to the dingy Autograph
which still adorned the front door. It was
the face of handsome, reckless looking
man, and the text underneath read:
Doc RIvERToN.
Desperate and Horse Thief. The State o.
Nebraska offers One Thousand Dollars for his
apprehension.
Sairey Brannan had not gazed long and
frequently at the features of this young
man during the past uneventful year in
vain. Hank Wells and his eldest son
darted from the house and speeding toward
the Brennan claim met And at the door
way. He was just returning from down
river trip. It was three to one and Doc
Riverton was soon on the way to Central
City, the ostentatious little county seat
The captured prize received life sentence
and is still in robust health serving the
State.
And Sairey received the whole of the
well-earned reward, accompanied by per-
sonal letter of thanks from the Governor:
It was duly framed, and to-day hangs in
conspicuous place in And's snug house on
another and a richer, better claim in the
fertile valley of the Loup. just beneath
it is the faded Autograph of Doc Riverton,
and often as of yore Sairey gazes long and
attentively at the handsome features, per-
haps with satisfaction with
tinge of regret.-Carrie s. Steele, IN Tanker.
Blade